COMPOSTABLE INSULATION FOR SHIPPING CONTAINER
A thermal insulation article includes a thermally insulating pad shaped to be positioned in a cavity of a rectangular prism shipping container. The pad includes a solid compostable panel formed primarily of starch and/or plant fiber pulp that holds together as a single unit, and a water-proof or water-resistant film forming a pocket enclosing the panel. The panel includes a first section, a second section, and a third section connecting the first section to the second section, the first and second section each having a central portion and two flaps that extend from the central portion beyond the third section, and wherein the panel is foldable into an open box.
1 . (canceled)
2 . A thermal insulation article for placement in a shipping container to hold an item, comprising:
a flexible thermally insulating pad shaped to be positioned in a cavity of a rectangular prism shipping container to be adjacent to and cover from two to five out of a floor, four side walls and cover of the container while leaving an interior space to receive the item, wherein the thermally insulating pad comprises:
a flexible panel that holds together as a single unit and is formed primarily of paper fiber; and
a flexible film secured to the panel along at least a portion of opposite surfaces of the panel,
wherein the thermal insulating pad is recyclable.
3 . The thermal insulation article of claim 2 , wherein the flexible film comprises a first paper sheet and a second paper sheet that sandwich and are directly secured to the flexible panel.
4 . The thermal insulation article of claim 3 , wherein the first paper sheet is positioned on an opposite external surface of the flexible panel than the second paper sheet.
5 . The thermal insulation article of claim 2 , wherein the flexible panel is formed of a material sufficiently soft to be manually folded.
6 . The thermal insulation article of claim 2 , wherein the flexible panel is formed primarily of plant fiber.
7 . The thermal insulation article of claim 6 , wherein the plant fiber comprises fibers from wood.
8 . The thermal insulation article of claim 2 , wherein the flexible panel has a thickness between about ¼ inch and about 1 inch.
9 . The thermal insulation article of claim 2 , wherein the flexible film comprises paper.
10 . The thermal insulation article of claim 9 , wherein the flexible film comprises a water-resistant or water-proof coating on a surface facing the flexible panel.
11 . The thermal insulation article of claim 2 , wherein the flexible panel comprises pores or voids that occupy 50% to 75% of the volume of the flexible panel.
12 . The thermal insulation article of claim 2 , wherein the flexible panel comprises pores or voids that occupy 25% to 50% of the volume of the flexible panel.
13 . The thermal insulation article of claim 2 , wherein the flexible panel comprises pores or voids that occupy 25% to 75% of the volume of the flexible panel.
14 . The thermal insulation article of claim 2 , wherein the flexible panel has a Young's modulus of 0.01 to 1 GPa.
15 . A thermal insulation article for placement in a shipping container to hold an item, comprising:
a flexible thermally insulating pad shaped to be positioned in a cavity of a rectangular prism shipping container to be adjacent to and cover from two to five out of a floor, a plurality of side walls and cover of the container while leaving an interior space to receive the item, wherein the thermally insulating pad comprises:
a flexible panel that holds together as a single unit and is formed primarily of paper fiber; and
a flexible paper film forming a pocket enclosing the flexible panel and providing both an interior surface of the pad to face the interior space and an exterior surface of the pad to face the respective floor, the plurality of side walls, or the cover,
wherein the thermal insulating pad is recyclable.
16 . The thermal insulation article of claim 15 , wherein the flexible paper film comprises a first paper sheet and a second paper sheet that sandwich and are directly secured to the flexible panel.
17 . The thermal insulation article of claim 15 , wherein the flexible paper film comprises a first paper sheet and a second paper sheet, and wherein one or more edges of the first paper sheet and one or more edges of the second paper sheet are sealed together.
18 . The thermal insulation article of claim 15 , wherein the flexible panel has a thickness between about ¼ inch and about 1 inch.
19 . The thermal insulation article of claim 15 , wherein the flexible paper film comprises a water-resistant or water-proof coating on a surface facing the flexible panel.
20 . The thermal insulation article of claim 15 , wherein the flexible panel sits loose inside the pocket such that the flexible panel can slide inside the pocket relative to the flexible paper film.
21 . The thermal insulation article of claim 15 , wherein the flexible panel comprises pores or voids that occupy 50% to 75% of the volume of the flexible panel.
22 . The thermal insulation article of claim 15 , wherein the flexible panel comprises pores or voids that occupy 25% to 75% of the volume of the flexible panel.
23 . The thermal insulation article of claim 15 , wherein the flexible panel comprises pores or voids that occupy 25% to 50% of the volume of the flexible panel.
24 . The thermal insulation article of claim 15 , wherein the flexible panel has a Young's modulus of 0.01 to 1 GPa.
25 . A thermal insulation article for placement in a shipping container to hold an item, comprising:
a flexible thermally insulating pad shaped to be positioned in a cavity of a rectangular prism shipping container while leaving an interior space to receive the item, wherein the thermally insulating pad comprises:
a flexible panel that holds together as a single unit and is formed primarily of organic fiber; and
a flexible paper film positioned on the panel along at least a portion of opposite surfaces of the panel,
wherein the thermal insulating pad is recyclable.
26 . The thermal insulation article of claim 25 , wherein the flexible paper film comprises a first paper sheet and a second paper sheet that sandwich and are directly secured to the flexible panel.
27 . The thermal insulation article of claim 25 , wherein the flexible paper film comprises a first paper sheet and a second paper sheet, and wherein one or more edges of the first paper sheet and one or more edges of the second paper sheet are sealed together thereby enclosing the flexible panel in a pocket.
28 . The thermal insulation article of claim 27 , wherein the flexible panel sits loose inside the pocket such that the flexible panel can slide inside the pocket relative to the flexible paper film.
29 . The thermal insulation article of claim 25 , wherein the flexible panel comprises pores or voids that occupy 25% to 75% of the volume of the flexible panel.
30 . The thermal insulation article of claim 25 , wherein the flexible paper film comprises a water-resistant or water-proof coating on a surface of the flexible paper film facing the flexible panel.
31 . The thermal insulation article of claim 25 , wherein the flexible panel has a Young's modulus of 0.01 to 1 GPa.